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The “Family Beach” Camping ground is seen from a high vantage point the day before Eid. Families gather here to camp during local celebrations such as Eid and National Day. Prior to this, families were allowed to camp directly onto the beach itself, however due to pollution and disruption of the beach area during festivities, Dibba Municipality does not allow the public to pitch tents by the beach anymore.

Mariam Ibrahim (31) smiles at her mother Zahra Al-Balooshi while sipping a cup of Arabic coffee during the late afternoon. This extended family, originally from Dubai,have been camping by the Dibba beach every holiday since 2009.

Shihab Khalid Shihab (6) nuzzles up to his mother Zahra Al-Balooshi while his grandmother Zahra Al-Balooshi places a loving hand on his head.

Mariam Ibrahim (31) walks out of a tent carrying incense with her niece running along behind her. Mariam comes to camp with her extended family during the holiday season; however by night she sleeps in a hotel nearby.

Mariam Ibrahim (31) smiles after lifting a cage of young parrots into the sunlight.

Ibrahim Ibrahim (9) attempts to re-start the generator in order to escape the mid-day heat on Eid day.

Zeenat Jan, a housekeeper from Ethiopia removes clothes from a clothing line at the camp-site in Dibba.

Khadeeja Adis, an employee of the family, makes a pot of fresh tea on the evening before Eid.

Abdullah Khalil Ibrahim (8) casually relaxes on a picnic chair as he watches television while camping in Dibba.

Abdullah Khalil Ibrahim (8) casually relaxes on a picnic chair as he watches television while camping in Dibba.

Hamad Al-Jasmi (16) feels faint and leans on his sister Anoud Al-Jasmi (20) after cutting his foot on a tent peg while playing football. Because the generator had been off, Hamad did not realize how much blood he had lost and how deep the cut was.

Abdullah Ibrahim (8) is sound asleep on the floor in the early hours of the morning on Eid day while his family interact behind him.

Kaltham Ibrahim (28) makes phone calls wishing relatives and friends a happy eid while her step-father Yaqoub Al-Balooshi sleeps on the bed behind her in the early hours of the morning on Eid day.

Abdullah Ibrahim (29) is fast asleep while the television blares in the background in the early hours of Eid day. “I work for the military, so I’m used to camping and sleeping outside” he says.

Dibba, a quaint little town on the eastern coast, attracts hundreds of visitors, mostly families, during Eid and National Day celebrations.

For many years UAE residents and Emiratis used to pitch their tents along the beach, waking up to salty fresh ocean air mixed with the familiar scents of cardamom, saffron and coffee brewing in tents. In recent years, however, Dibba Municipality has banned tents on the beach because of excessive litter, and suggested that visitors camp instead in the open space near by.

Despite this new regulation, hundreds of local families flocked to the area for Eid, among them Yaqoub Al Jasmi, his wife Zahra Al Balooshi and their extended family. For the past three years the 16-strong family and six of their domestic staff have driven down from Dubai to mark celebratory occasions in the open air. There is ample room to roam, run and drive their dune buggies yet still maintain their privacy within the confines of their campsite, which is no doubt why this place retains its popularity year after year.

– See more at: http://blogs.thenational.ae/photography/national-view/eid-camping-in-dibba-by-razan-alzayani#sthash.2kyRzTKT.dpuf

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